June 18, 2009

• The Road to Jordan: Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Mysteries Solved.

  After two days of concentrated laziness, it was time to crawl up from the banks of the Nile and back into the searing desert heat, resuming our journey northward to Luxor, and stopping in at two more temples along the way. First up, the medical temple of Kom Ombo
  
  
  Why do I call it the medical temple? Well, because the inscriptions carved into all the walls list the medical knowledge at the time.
  
  Knowledge like the best position to give birth
  
  Or the prescription for Egyptian Viagra...
  
  Does Your Staff of Ra rise up to greet the morning sun? Will I ever get tired of naughty hieroglyphs? If you answered yes to either of these questions, read on to find out who to thank!
   
  This is Imhotep ^
  
  Not to be confused with the archnemesis of Rick O Connell and beloved of Anuk sun amun

  Imhotep was the first physician of recorded history. He is credited with being the author of a medical treatise remarkable for being devoid of magical thinking, the Edwin Smith Papryus, which contains anatomical observations, ailments and cures. He was the Chief adviser of Djoser, not to mention his chief architect, administrator and priest. He designed the step pyramid we saw at saqqara. 
  Prior to Djosers step pyramid, as I mentioned, Pharohs tombs were just simple mounds, more like cairns than anything else. While the actual site of Imhotep's tomb is unknown, it is believed to be secreted somewhere on the grounds of Saqqara.
  
  Imhotep was so well known to the people of the time, he was posthumously elevated to deity status and believed to be a son of Thoth (above). He was later linked to Asclepius, the father of medicine from Greek History, and even his name became the means of addressing physicians. That is to say, I would be known as Josh Imhotep, aka Dr J.
   
  Not bad for a peasant, eh? Of course, the fact that I was still somewhat ill from the night before, and not yet "farting with confidence" lessened my enjoyment somewhat. Nonetheless this was the most personally significant temple to me. It even had rooms built into the back that were set up like hospitals! You know, stone bed, chamber pot, view of reception area...good times.

  Next up was Edfu temple
  
  Dedicated to the wife of Horus, Hathor (pronounced hat-whore) Edfu was equally stunning in that most of the grounds have survived without falling into ruins or losing key sections like most of the other egyptian temples
  
  In fact, it seems to be curiously well preserved...
  
  Almost as if something of great importance was buried here...
  
  A hole to the stars? Hmmm, and what is that passage over there?
  
  Could I have found it?
  
  Yes! The entry to the stargate! Okay, check off another hidden mystery taken care of by Indiana Josh. Now I just need to track down that pesky holy grail. Ah well, I am sure it will turn up.

  Next stop, Luxor! Home to Egypts Greatest open air museum!
  

  • 8:41 pm
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